Thailand & Drive
![106Father](http://assumptioncathedralbkk.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/106Father.jpg)
FR. John MURRAY, Member of the Order of St Augustine,
Tuesday, November 17, 2020
This week, I have to renew my diver’s license. Here you are given a license for five years and then you renew it. I knew what I had to face in getting it and, even after 15 years here, I was stressed facing the prospect of what awaited me – big crowds at a government office where I will find all sorts of bureaucratic adventures. And what good purpose does it all serve? As far as I can see, it is primarily about seeing if the applicant can overcome every challenge put in their way.
Anyway, here goes!
![Thai Driver's Licence Life-Lives-Green-Matters](http://assumptioncathedralbkk.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Thai-Drivers-Licence.jpg)
Notice of appointment for getting my new license.
On carefully, but bravely, approaching another exercise in Thai government bureaucracy, I never expected what happened. Due to Covid-19, a new process was set in place for renewing your driver’s license. You now had to make an appointment which I did, discovering that the next available appointment is in March next year – four months away. Wow!
As I always say here, your life can completely turn around in 24 hours, or much less. Another way of expressing this was given to me by a Thai parent who has his child preparing for First Penance at the cathedral. At the last minute, he advised me that he and his family could not come to a planned family meeting within the program. He asked me if I was not aware of the “Thai surprise”? The Thai surprise is ever-present.
Thailand is a funny place. It shows how imperfect our world is, and thank God it is as it surely, always reminds me that I am not in control.
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